Anna Nordqvist does not mind admitting that, after coming through some of the toughest challenges in her life, captaining Team Europe in next year’s Solheim Cup is not only a welcome distraction but a dream come true.
Three years ago, her world came crashing down when she received news at a tournament in South Korea that her husband, Kevin McAlpine, had died suddenly.
McAlpine, 39, was an LPGA caddie and son of the former Dundee United goalkeeper Hamish. Nordqvist had revealed on social media the pair were going through a divorce, but the tragic news prompted her to return immediately to the United States.
Nordqvist and McAlpine after her Women’s Open triumph at Carnoustie in 2021
WARREN LITTLE/GETTY
“You get married and plan for a future, and then you see it shatter into a thousand pieces,” she said. “I’ve dealt with a lot of emotions and been through hell and beyond. I hope no one ever has to go through what I did.
“I did everything I could to help him and make things work and it’s hard to pick up the pieces and start from scratch when you’re 36 years old.”
With help from family and friends, Nordqvist has done a lot of soul searching and reflecting on what ultimately makes her happy. “I’d always held back on things I really wanted to do but now I’ve been to Wimbledon, the Ryder Cup and the Open,” she said. “Golf isn’t so important any more.”
The 38-year-old Swede and three-times major winner, including the 2021 AIG Women’s Open, is still an active player on the LPGA Tour and says she definitely does not envisage facing a Keegan Bradley scenario where she may end up as a playing captain.
“I have always said pretty loud and clear I’m focused completely on the captaincy,” she said, having finished one under after the second round of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl. “I know the players and I know the caddies and I’m more approachable if I’m not playing. I’ve been playing alongside a lot of the possible team members and I think it gives you a good grasp of what they’re like as people, their personalities and style of play.
“But when I’m outside the ropes I can treat it more like an office. It’s a fine balance, but we’re a year out and I have a great team to help me. I love all that goes on in the background, like signing bags and designing the outfits. That’s very much a hobby for me.”
Nordqvist has named her compatriot Caroline Hedwall and England’s Mel Reid as vice-captains for the event, which takes place at Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands in September next year.
Since going with her family to watch the Solheim Cup in Barseback, Sweden, in 2003, Nordqvist said her goal was to play in one. In a remarkable career, she has appeared in nine consecutive editions, with Europe lifting the trophy five times.
“There’s a beauty in new beginnings, and I’m so much happier now,” she said, describing captaining Team Europe as bigger than any of her goals growing up. The team is in good hands.
Woad is leading the British charge on two under
GETTY
Elsewhere at Royal Porthcawl, the Japanese players continued to dominate the leaderboard, with Miyu Yamashita taking a three-shot lead into the weekend ahead of Rio Takeda after carding a superb seven-under 65 to move to 11 under.
England’s Lottie Woad and local favourite Darcey Harry head the British challenge at two under. The favourite going in to the tournament, Woad made the perfect start with a flurry of birdies to take her to five under before her round was derailed with a triple-bogey seven at the par-four 16th.
“I think it’s the toughest hole on the course and I just had to forget about it as quickly as possible,” Woad said. “I’m probably a bit too far back now but playing four rounds is never a bad thing.”
Women’s Open leaderboard-4 C Tamburlini (Switz), P Anannarukarn (Thai), L Duncan (US)-3 Kim Sei Young (S Kor), M Sagstrom (Swe), Kim A Lim (S Kor), L Fuenfstueck (Ger)-2 A Lee (US), N Hataoka (Japan), N Korda (US), L Woad (Eng), M Khang (US), D Harry (Wales), E Henseleit (Ger), C Alexander (SA), B Matthew (US)